This discrepancy is because, in about 70-80% of the reported acute cases, patients either experience no symptoms at all or experience vague symptoms that can easily lead to misdiagnoses. This aspect is one of the things that has lead physicians and researchers to refer to it as the “silent epidemic.”

Luckily, there is a light at the end of the tunnel for HCV sufferers. In 2011 a new drug was released that wipes out the virus for practically all patients in just 8 to 12 weeks. But just because pharmaceutical companies have found a way to easily treat HCV, doesn’t mean that it’s not a major threat to some members of the population.

As we mentioned, symptoms aren’t always common in infected patients, but there are some that can be easily attached to other illnesses, which can lead to misdiagnoses. Here are some of the hallmark signs that sufferers experience:

As a matter of fact, we’re willing to bet that you experience at least one of the above indicators every once in a while, without thinking anything of it once it goes away! Just goes to show you why HCV has earned its nickname as the “silent epidemic.”

If you fall into any of the above categories — and especially if you are, in fact, experiencing the symptoms — it’s time that you have a serious talk with your doc about the hepatitis C virus. Luckily, testing is usually simple and non-invasive, and results come back quickly.

To learn even more about the virus, including how it affects the livers of acute patients, be sure to watch the video below. In it, you’ll get advice from HCV expert and Mount Sinai Hospital clinical instructor, Paul Knoepflmacher, MD. Free medical advice? We’ll take it!

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What are your thoughts on HCV symptoms? Do you suffer from HCV? If so, did you notice any symptoms prior to your diagnosis?